Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan beat first-term U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in a nasty U.S. Senate race in which the Republican incumbent questioned Hagan's faith and ties to an atheist advocacy group. Hagan's win gave Democrats the Senate seat that had been in Republican hands for 36 years, since Sen. Jesse Helms won his first election in 1972.

WRAL video archive: Dole-Hagan Senate race
Democrats' plans to take Jesse Helms' old Senate seat, but state Sen. Kay Hagan and Sen. Elizabeth Dole were tied after the primary. Although Dole struck back, gaining ground on immigration and off-shore drilling, the economy and presidential race favored Democrats. Dole did herself no favors with an ad questioning Hagan's ties to an atheist-advocate group – and Hagan’s Christian faith, critics said. On Election Day, Hagan beat Dole.

Hagan demands Dole take down ad on faith
Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan angrily demanded Wednesday that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole stop airing a new ad that questions Hagan's ties to an atheist political group, calling the spot a slanderous and pathetic attempt to maintain political power.

Dole remains passionate about public service
A career public servant, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole has served five presidents – four Republicans and one Democrat – and she hopes to continue to serve in the Senate under a new president in January.

Rhetoric heats up in tight Senate race
With less than three weeks left until Election Day, Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan are slugging it out in advertisements and media interviews.

Dole now supports lifting ban on offshore drilling
Sen. Elizabeth Dole said North Carolina should have the option of allowing oil exploration off the state's coast, backing away from her long-held support of a federal moratorium on Atlantic drilling.